Flashback MP3 - Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - Black

Bonnie 'Prince' Billy aka Wil Oldham made one fucking dark creepy album at the end of the 1990's. 'I See A Darkness' has hailed universal amazing reviews, a bizarre perfect score from Pitchfork Media, and been stuck in most of us for over the last ten years. This is a track that absolutely gives me shivers.

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Picture - Don't Salt My Game

MP3 - Mike G Ft. Vince Staples & SPEAK! - Michael Douglas

Mike G just released a free EP last week called Award Tour. Despite the Tribe Called Quest reference it still sounds very OFWGKTA. To me, sometimes the minimal beats accomplish a wicked old school sounds, but on most of their tracks the beats make it sound like high school production.

There are exceptions. On specific songs. Everything Frank Ocean does is an exception. Like this this song Michael Douglas is an exception. There were some other ok tracks on it but this one really jumped out at me.

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Essential Bootleg - Neutral Milk Hotel - Accordion Peas

 Accordion Peas is an essential piece of NMH history. It is often circulated amongst circles of friends and,of course, the internet as a demo. This is understandable, as there are many NMH demos in constant circulation (Hype City, Invent Yourself a Shortcake, Beauty...); however, Accordion Peas is a collection of two live performances. This tape was mostly likely originally constructed by Jeff Mangum.

The first live recording takes place 12.31.98 (New Years Eve!) at a venue called The 40 Watt Club in Athens Georgia. It contains three rare NMH tracks 'Oh, Sister', Little Birds, and Engine. Engine was later released as the b-side to the 7' release of 'Holland,1945', 'Little Birds' was just released in late 2011 as a bonus 7' in the NMH boxset, and 'Oh, Sister' is an In An Aeroplane Over the Sea outtake. Pay special attention to the last one as it contains hauntingly similar parts to ' Oh, Comely'.

The last recording is also from 1998. It is take from Chris Bilheimer's birthday party on 12/5/98. I'm pretty sure he was the art director for In An Aeroplane Over the Sea. These are the last four tracks. Basiclly when you hear Aeroplane again its the next recording.

I cant stress the brillance or importance of this music spiritually and culturally. I do hope you enjoy. Ps Josh this ones for you bro.

 Oh yea, and to keep up with all the undercurrents of Neutral Milk Hotel check The Kingdom of Carrot Flowers for all the info you need.

Neutral Milk Hotel - Accordion Peas

Picture - Quadra Cemetery

Flashback MP3 - Burial - Fostercare

Released on the Hyperdub 5th Year Collection, Fostercare is serious biz. This track which echos with his first releases bangs out heavy on the low end. Be sure to turn it up. People often say that Burial needs to switch up his style, that he's already accomplished that sound and he needs to push it further. I say if it ain't broke don't fix it. Word.




Burial - Fostercare

Essential Demo - Three Shades of Dirty - Paper Roses

This is the greatest demo tape you've never heard. It was the greatest demo tape I ever discovered. There is virtually no information on Three Shades of Dirty surfing around the internet. They were a trio from Annapolis, MD who released a 8 song EP in 1990 called Paper Roses on the Vermin Scum label. Vermin Scum housed the best of late 80's indie/emo/hardcore with bands like Moss Icon, The Hated, Choke, and even Glass Candy (yes, Glass Candy. I saw them for like 20 minutes at Rifflandia it was better than I expected).

Three Shades of Dirty were formed out of the ashes of The Hated. I wish there was more info about this band, and I stand by the belief that if this EP were released today as a demo it would be devoured and then fought over by a number of labels. The music was ahead of its time, and because of poor distribution they band had moved on way before anyone heard it. Theres a bit of a cult following on the internet but still its relatively small. So, behold Paper Roses. The stereo balance is a bit screwed at the start of the first track but it sorts itself out halfway through.

Three Shades of Dirty - Paper Roses EP